Neighbours of a heavily pregnant murdered teenager warned today that vigilantes may act if police fail to find her killer soon.

The body of Nikitta Grender, 19, was found by firefighters called to a blaze at her flat in Newport, on Saturday morning.

Shock at what appeared to be a tragic accident turned to anger when police revealed that Miss Grender, eight months pregnant with a baby girl, had been stabbed to death.

The strength of feeling locally could be seen today by the number of floral tributes left outside the flat in Broadmead Park, Liswerry.

One shocked neighbour warned that emotions were now running so high that some in the community could turn to vigilante-style justice.

“I can see vigilantes coming in if the police do not find who did this,” said mother-of-four Christine Tovey, a neighbour of the murdered teenager.

“I couldn’t blame them if anyone did. Emotions are running so high around here. Life isn’t fair anymore.”

She said the only knew Miss Grender to nod to in the street but that she was well-known and had grown up in the area.

“She had moved in to the flat with her boyfriend about five or six months ago and was well-liked,” she said.

“You couldn’t miss her in the street because she was so pregnant. What has happened to her is disgusting.

“I took the children to school this morning and nobody was talking, there was no hello, no smile, just silence.

“It’s not on, it’s just not on. Everything is sullen, people just feel anger and disgust. They want whoever did this found quickly.”

She said her garden was one of many searched by the police yesterday as part of efforts to find the murder weapon.

She added: “If anyone knows anything about who did this, please come forward and speak to the police.”

Officers were continuing house-to-house inquiries today with a major presence on the housing estate on the edge of Newport.

A team of workmen were also using an array of equipment to empty out drains in the hope of finding the murder weapon, believed to be a knife.

Police are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have any information to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne, of Gwent Police, said: “This is an horrific crime where two innocent lives have been lost.

“Nikitta was two weeks away from giving birth to a baby girl. This is particularly callous and something we very rarely see.

“When Nikitta’s family should have been looking forward to the birth of her baby, they are now absolutely grief-stricken.

“We know Nikitta was out with friends Friday evening and visited McDonald’s in the Spytty area during the evening, and we are establishing the exact time she was dropped back to her address, but we would urge anyone who was in the vicinity of Nikitta’s address in 51 Broadmead Park, was with her or who saw her at any stage from 7pm on Friday February 4 onwards to get in touch.

“Someone must know who did this and we are urging members of the community to come forward and help us with this inquiry.”

Anyone with information should get in touch with police on 01443 865562 or 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.